When Guitar Players Give Up On Les Pauls

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[DylanWOWilliams]

“This is a guitar for the boomers who can’t let go of 1967” That’s literally every guitar you play.

[davepatterson]

I'm addicted to Japanese Les Paul copies. Primarily, ones made between the late 70's and the early 90's. Tokai, Greco, Burny and Orville to name a few. Usually affordable, superior build quality and quite often, amazing sounding.

[andrefludd]

I recognize that guy with the blue double cut. My two cents, the best Les Paul is made by Vigier.

[Scott_Silver]

Epiphone Les Paul Classic is where it is at for the neck alone, I mean I put Gibson pickups in it, but still my favorite guitar. I have the Korean made one.

[giordash]

As a Strat lifer, I also wrestled with LPs for a long time. Many I tried never really felt or sounded right until I found ones that suited my taste AS A STRAT PLAYER. Lower output pickups helped to mimic the response of single coils, as well as the pickups themselves. I have a Goldtop that I experimented with different pickups at length until I found ones that felt to me like the sound was matching my own dynamics - again speaking on the strat vibe, they were these very scoffed at Dimarzios that incorporate single coil windings as well as humbucking windings. I regularly get laughed at when I tell people what they are, but then they hear this Goldtop and are rendered speechless. LP Jr’s are almost a different beast entirely but realistically much closer to what the strat player wants in an LP generally speaking.

[JohnAldenDavis]

I’ve always heard good things about Sire, it’s been great to see how much they’ve expanded since their inception.

[timelmore]

There aren't many alternatives because Gibson has taken everyone to court.

[larsfocken]

Sire guitars also are Squier Killers 😉

[tony.guitarplayer]

Funny. I had Teles, Strats, LPs, SGs, etc... But i always back to LP. It's something "mojo" on the LP that other guitar doesn't have

[rosewoodsteel]

Mike, there is also the PRS McCarty, single cut. You won't have the P-90's, but it's a great alternative to the Les Paul. Leslie West of the group Mountain played an old Les Paul Jr. If you're not familiar with the song "Mississippi Queen", check it out. It was the heaviest song of it's time, imo, and the P-90 absolutely screams.

[GOD_BLESS_THE_BEATLES]

Mike time for a Gretsch "59 White Falcon!! Try it you'll like it!! "Mikey even liked it!!"

[GOD_BLESS_THE_BEATLES]

I think it would be neat if Rhett and you got together to compare gear and playing styles!!

[justiceforall]

I had a Larry Carlton. I sold it because the neck didn't fit my hand. That said, it's a fine guitar. They are VERY well made and the prices haven't blown up yet. Great deal for pro and hobby player alike.

[tomblankinship]

I have a Revstar with P90’s and I’ll pick it up before my LP every time.

[saxophite]

I haven't played any of the Sire guitars, but I used to own a Sire V3 5 string bass, and currently own a Sire M7 5 string bass, and man they are fantastic sounding and playing instruments across the range. I'm even thinking of getting one of the Sire strats based off my experience with their basses, I've played a few and they feel fantastic each and everytime. If anyone is on the fence about them, my two cents is that they're absolutely worth the money.

[heatherwade]

Taking care of a Les Paul is like taking care of a Harley. You got to fiddle with it, adjust it, and learn how it works to really get the best out of it.

[CameraLaw]

Loved this video. Walked by a plugged in Sire semi-hollowbody at my local GC and was very impressed. Fit, finish, and all, were top grade. LC’s name on it means a lot, because he’s the king of that model of guitar. And it’s so reasonably priced.

[its_ameal]

ive always been a strat guy. My go to has always been my highway one hss strat, i played i learned everything I know about guitar from that strat. but during covid, I got my hands on a harley benton les paul, it showed up with a broken headstock. I asked them to give me store credit instead of returning it. I decided to fix it the headstock and more. I learned how to solder, changed the pickups to EMG's, changed all the electronics to american made CTSs. I figured, hey "go big or go home", so I changed all the hardware to gotoh, hipshot tuners, and schaller s strap locks. and man it was all coming together. But I decided to take it further. I changed the nut to a graphtech nut, then took out all my frets and switched them over to jumbo stainless steel frets. When it was all said and done, I probably spent about $800 on the guitar including the tools (fret clamps, soldering station, etc). Yeah, I couldve shopped around and find something with the same specs if I tried hard enough, but I can truly say that this is MY les paul, and Its been my go to ever since.

[bruhemian]

that thing you said in the intro almost happened to me with my gretsch streamliner. couldn't get it to sound as good as i wanted. until something just clicked. i was days away from selling it but quickly changed my mind.

the les paul though, it clicked with me immediately. similar to how the strat did. those are my babies. i love my strat more still, but my les paul i love a lot too. ol' reliable.

[rockerbuck]

I used to look at the headstock first, and if the name wasn't right, I'd put it down. Thank God I grew up a long time ago. I have some great guitars that aren't considered "popular, " but they'll run rings around any Gibson - or Epiphone, for that matter. I've had two Les Pauls that I couldn't "bond" with, and sold them. For the record, I'm a Yamaha man - guitars and amps.